August 10th 2005
Filed under Finished Projects 2005
Materials: DMC Perle 8 in ecru, Gutermann Size 9 Seed Beads in 1195 and black ribbon.
Pattern: MaryElla from Knitty Winter 2004.
Needles: 1.25 mm.
Notes: I thought I would start with a mini version of the cuff – using just one bead on each stitch, so it could be a quick make. The needles are awful to knit with especially at night. However, the ‘yarn’ is thin enough to use a beading needle to thread the beads which is very useful – I needed nearly 250 beads on this mini version.
July 25th 2005
Filed under General, Stash Enhancement
I have been busy working on my Dad’s jumper at the moment. I have done pretty well and have finished about half the back – I am looking forward to starting the decreases for the arms – as knitting straight stocking stitch is starting to get on my nerves.
I like to have two projects going on at once, on different size needles – just to exercise my hands. Normally, the project on the 3.75mm needles would be the smaller needles – but this time – they are the large needles and I am using 1.25mm (US 0000) needles as my other project, the Maryella cuff (which is nearly finished).
Not much else to post about the weekend – my sister went to Brussels (so now I am pigging out on chocolate), I did do some hunting online placed a few orders, I finally got some of the silk from Hipknits, in Surf. This wool is perfect for a OSW, however, I think I want to knit a summer top with it. I also brought some cotton from Texere, in wine and chocolate (for a border for my mini-sweater). I got a few bits for my secret pal too – but I am not going to post that here in case she is reading 
.
June 28th 2005
Filed under General
I seem to have turned all my Hobbycraft buys into project and I have three new WIPs.
I have managed to complete clues one and two of the mystery stole – and was about to start clue three last night – when I read it was the main bulk of the stole and rather concenrate on that – I cast on the scarf I was planning in the Sirdar’s Duet (as I am doing it in garter stitch), as I was knitting, I noticed how the scarf looks like Double Choc Ice Cream – so I have named it the Double Choc Scarf – perfect for a summer evening. 
Then this morning my correct seed beads arrived – so I cast on MaryElla (finally) – it looks so tiny like something an doll would knit, I must get some batteries for my camera to take some photos.
June 24th 2005
Filed under General
I just love getting parcels in the post, I ordered a few things online this week – some stuff for my Secret Pal and some for me and most of it arrived this morning. The biggest package was from Stitch’ n’ Craft, I have been wanting to make some MaryElla bracelets from knitty as gifts, and I have loads of DMC Floss and beads – so all I needed was the needles – which it appears are really hard to get hold of. After hunting around online, I found Stitch ‘n’ Craft sold the needles, but then I discovered all there beads – so many pretty colours and so I had to order more.
Today when my package arrived, I discovered that seed beads actually come in sizes (I thought seed bead was the size 
) as I looked at the beads one tube looked fine, but the other 3 tubes were filled with tiny beads – I could just about make out the hole in the middle – let alone thread them into cotton – assuming I could find a needle that small. I have now discovered (from this site) that seed beads have sizes, and I needed size 11 not 15.
Not to be deterred, I found some black beads in my stash and white floss and realized the DMC floss, I have is 6 thread floss and not Perle 8 – like the pattern called for – so at the moment, I am feeling a little silly and extremely embarrassed. Not to be deterred, I am off to Hobbycraft this weekend to try again.
Seeing, as I love parcels, I thought it was about time I spread some joy and send my first part of the Secret Pal gift – especially, as I got the finally part of the first present today – and some of the bits for the second gift – I just have to go to the post office to buy an envelope and sent it.
